Free safety check costs a grand

I also had a bad a bad experience with Martins in Camberely. My VW Passat has only been serviced there since new but after just 4 years the door electrics started failing. They charged me £50 to diagnose the problem and then said it was probably a broken wire. However they said to fix could be many hours investigation at £110 per hour. So instead I went to an independent car electrician who quickly found my ecu in the footwell was corroded because of a big water leak, the wires were fine. I then discovered myself an plastic air con connector cap was stuck in the main drain hole under the battery in the engine compartment and causing the water ingress. Went back to Martins and they denied it was any of their doing even though they are the only ones ever to touch my car since new but after a long argument agreed to fix the problem 'as a goodwill guesture'.
So any problem with Passat Electrics get the water holes checked and don't take it to Martins. My auto electician only charged me £90 to fully diagnose the root cause as opposed to many hundreds of pounds VW were planning on charging me. I've also just discovered Martins VW in Camberley charge £120 more to replace a Cambelt than Martin's VW in Farnham so they are just a bunch of ripoff cowboys.

To be fair, the parts were the dearest the dealer only charged £300 labour the parts were the rest. I cant see why an injector should cost £460 and an ECU unit cost £800 they probably cost pence to make, taking into account there are four injectors, the car is very good to drive but I will not ever buy a VW again. Customer Care at VW are as good as a paper umbrella.

I took my Golf to a main dealer Lindvale in Southend, it was not firing on num 3 cylinder, my friend a fitter had already diagnosed this but it still had to be diagnosed by VW at a cost of £100. They then said that it needed an injector cost £701 after this had failed they said it needed an ECU also at a cost of £800 I dont think that there was anything wrong with the injector in the first place but you cant prove this, total cost £1516.03 then on collection they said that the CV joint rubbers were split cost £344 I told them to leave them. ( they were not split anyway). I will never go to VW main dealers again nor will I buy a VW again. all parts were Dealer parts only.

I took my Golf to a main dealer Lindvale in Southend, it was not firing on num 3 cylinder, my friend a fitter had already diagnosed this but it still had to be diagnosed by VW at a cost of £100. They then said that it needed an injector cost £701 after this had failed they said it needed an ECU also at a cost of £800 I dont think that there was anything wrong with the injector in the first place but you cant prove this, total cost £1516.03 then on collection they said that the CV joint rubbers were split cost £344 I told them to leave them. ( they were not split anyway). I will never go to VW main dealers again nor will I buy a VW again. all parts were Dealer parts only.

I too have just been ripped off by a VW dealer. It was Peter Cooper in Southampton and they fully deserve to be named and shamed for charging me £280 to change two CV boots (which cost £20 each) £330 for a cam belt change, £228 for an oil change (although they called it a "Service") and £50 for and MOT. The best part of a grand gone on a rubber belt, two rubber covers and a bottle of oil all of which I could have bought for less than £100!

I swear that I will never take my car to a main dealer in my life again!! Support you local independent garages! They deserve your custom and will treat you far better than a main dealer.

just bought a VW Passat 2.8 V6 4Motion. Is truly a lovely car. Engine managment light came on after two days, so I took it in for a diagnostics check. That revealed the catalytic converter was faulty. Ok s*** happens, but did not expect to find that it is a dealer part only to the tune of £780 each (yes there are two).
Ever felt ripped off?

My mistake. CV Joints, not boots. Still does not affect steering.

CV boots do not affect steering. Constant velocity boots are on the drive axles of the vehicles.

I have had both my cars serviced by Martins Camberley and had free saftey checks carried out on both as well I have never had a problem with Martins or Whites as it was and always found there staff honest and reliable

Took my car to Care plus for a tune up, picked it up and within 24hrs had no hand brake, a missing brake light and a hole in my muffler. None of this was mentioned in the report as needing attention. Car yard claims no responsibility.

My Daughter took her S Reg Golf to Benfield Motors in Newcastle the VW Dealership, the problem being the bonnet handle had snapped, they duly quoted £65 for supply and fit, she then went to the parts dept and purchased the handle for £2.95 inc Vat and called in at a garage near our home. The Mechanic at Pear Tree Garage off Sunderland Road in Gateshead fitted it within 2 minutes free of charge. Well done that man, needless to say she takes all her business there now, service, MOT or even just a safety check.

Hear hear! I once took my Zafira to be serviced at a Vauxhall garage, and two days later it wouldn't start. I had to pay £50 for a truck to take it the half mile from my home to the garage (they didn't have their own recovery facility) only to be told the battery hadn't been reconnected securely following the service. Not only did I lose £50, but I didn't receive an apology AND the car was returned with a big scratch on the passenger door! When I rang the garage to complain I was told they weren't liable for the damage, despite the fact it had obviously occurred either in their private car park or in the service bay. Needless to say I never went back - and I now drive a Renault.